Tue Apr 29 17:11:37 UTC 2025: ## Madurai Court Hands Down Harsh Sentences in Major Ganja Smuggling Cases
**Madurai, Tamil Nadu, April 29, 2025** – Two separate ganja smuggling cases in Madurai have resulted in significant prison sentences, highlighting the ongoing fight against drug trafficking in the region.
The First Additional Special Court for Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act Cases sentenced two individuals, R. Malaisamy and R. Shanmugaprabhu, to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹2 lakh fine each for smuggling 332 kg of ganja in 2020. Eight other accused were acquitted. The ganja was initially seized by Subramaniapuram police during a vehicle interception.
In a separate case, the same court handed down 12-year rigorous imprisonment sentences and a ₹1 lakh fine each to four individuals – K. Jayakumar, P. Ramesh, V. Deivam, and T. Rajendran – for smuggling 322 kg of ganja in 2022. Three others were acquitted in this case. Austinpatti police seized the ganja from a truck, SUV, and auto-rickshaw during an interception near Thoppur. These convictions underscore the court’s determination to combat the illegal drug trade in Madurai.
First Piper 